Chesapeake vs Waco
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Chesapeake
Waco
The Verdict
Living in Waco costs 25.3% less than Chesapeake. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Chesapeake, you would need $59,856 in Waco.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Chesapeake has the same purchasing power as $59,856 in Waco.
Conversely, $75,000 in Waco equals $93,976 in Chesapeake.
Living in Chesapeake vs Waco
Housing Costs
Chesapeake's housing index of 120 is higher Waco's 63, translating to median home prices of $385,000 vs $230,000. The $155,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,080 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,550/mo in Chesapeake compared to $1,050/mo in Waco, a monthly difference of $500.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Chesapeake and 95 in Waco. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Chesapeake vs $451/month in Waco. Waco offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $408/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 105 in Chesapeake and 97 in Waco. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Chesapeake vs $388 in Waco. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 97 in Chesapeake and 93 in Waco. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $94,200 in Chesapeake and $49,500 in Waco. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $90,577 and $59,639 respectively. Chesapeake residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,198/month to housing in Chesapeake vs $1,155/month in Waco. In Chesapeake, median rent of $1,550/mo fits within this budget. In Waco, median rent of $1,050/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 57 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases